The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-05-22
WOMEN ON PARADE.

The conviction forced itself upon the minds
Daughters of Rebekah, last Wednesday, that
e women are to adopt the custom, hitherto
monopolized by vain and ostentatious man, of
marching in public procession, they must, in
Justice to themselves, wear a uniform cos
tune. 1t is a fact, commonly acknowledged,
that the individual woman loses something of
her attractiveness of appearance when she
forms one of large assemblage, let her at
tire be gorgeous as it may; indeed, where it is
"dress" occasion and each one present is ar
phesomenon in question is most frequently
remarked. The trouble seems to be n nat
inc raiment worn by herself detracts rom
the beauty of woman-such proposition
would be atrocious-but that it does 80 when
upon the persons of roomful of her female
friends and acquaintance. 1t is not that
she loses by contrast but that the eye of
the spectator is confused with the multiplicity
Of colors, the glitter of the iewelry, the vary
ing sheen of the silks and satins; and the
impression formed concerning any one mem
Der Of the company, unless, indeed, as some
times happens, the attention is concentrated
upon her alone, is not clear and distinct The
picture upon the mind is of tumble of dry
goods and sort Of composite photograph of
faces. With the men of social gathering it
Is different The funereal blackness and
angularity Of their coats, the tombstone-like
CLEAN of their linen chests are not in
themselves pleasing sights, but thoy create no
disturbance of the retina and leave the mind
free to note the symmetry of their noble
forms and the attractiveness 6f their physiog-
Monies. 1t is the same with any variety of
masculine uniform. Military men are OBJ
jects Of envy and admiration everywhere, not,
as they may fancy. because of the gold lace
and gilt braid embellishments OF their attire,
but because the personality of each is more
distinctly set forth by the uniformity of his
habilimep+s with those Of his companions. AS
a body they are far more impressive than
when clothed in citizens garb of varying
color and cut Who would turn out to
see military parade If the companies were
not in uniformG The same principle applies
to parades OF female orders and organizations.
1t is probable, at least not impossible, that
any individual daughter of the fivs hundred
Daughters of Rebekah who marched to the
park last week would have been found to be
an object of beauty could she have been re-
garded separately, and without the distract
ing presence of four hundred and ninety-nine
other women arrayed in four hundred and
ninety mine different styles of costume. As
IL was, all the loneliness of these FIVE hundred
daughters was lost in the confusion. What
man il capable of judging justly and with
discrimination Of the charms of five hundred
women, when, in looking at them, his gaze
l. also compelled to rest upon five hundred
distinct varieties Of hats and bonnets2 II is
too much for the masculine mind, and the dis
appointed and confused male observer turns
away with the erroneous impression that the
wearers of the bonnets are, far as beauty
il concerned, not worth looking at. Had
these FIVE hundred Daughters of Rebekah
worn uniforms, or, at least, if their five hun
bred hats had been of the same pattern, they
would have received o much greater tribute of
admiration as they passed through the streets
than was bestowed upon them, and their
attractiveness would have been appreciated at
Its true worth. 1t may be said in resentment
Of these kindly-meant comments, that the
Daughters Of Rebekah do not parade for the
sake Of being looked at and admired; but if
20, then what do they parade fort Such
claim would call for an elaborate explanation.
Frank and honest members of the various
male orders are free 10 confess that the
main object which they havel in dom
ming their regala and turning out to follow a
brass band is to be gazed at by the populace.
Why should woman be less frank in her
knowledcments9 Until she proves that she
has another purpose in view the public will
continue to doubt that she marches in process
sion from solemn sense of duty alone, and
will not cease to urge that justice to herself
and the spectators calls for uniform.
~m---~-~<--